COMMUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY - New Westminster · 2017-01-12 · Community Poverty...

COMMUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY

October 2016

Contents

1.0 Executive Summary 4

2.0 Background 5

3.0 Introduction 6

4.0 Methods 8

5.0 Definition 9

6.0 Current Situation 10

7.0 Five-Year Action Plan 16

8.0 Implementation Strategy 23

9.0 Monitoring and Evaluation 24

Acknowledgements

The development of this strategy would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, whose members are listed below, and the support of the City of New Westminster and the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The committee met on a monthly basis to inform and oversee the development of the strategy.

The development of this strategy would also not have been possible without the involvement of families with lived experiences with poverty and low incomes, who shared their challenges and ideas, and the community partners who participated in the consultation.

To all who were involved or who took an interest, your commitment and dedication to improving the outcomes of families living in poverty and with low incomes is truly appreciated and commendable.

Committee Members:• Andrea Canales, Immigrant Services Society of BC• Alba Banman, Spirit of the Children Society• Kathy Berggren-Clive, Ministry of Children and Family Development• Karen Corcione, Ministry of Children and Family Development• Dawn Embree, Lower Mainland Purpose Society• Angela Francis, Salvation Army• Carlos and Eva Galvez, Salvation Army• Tristan Johnson, City of New Westminster• Councillor Jaimie McEvoy, City of New Westminster• Maryam Khalilsarbaz, Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver• Gabriella Maio, Ministry of Children and Family Development• Marjorie Staal, New Westminster Family Place• John Stark, City of New Westminster• Deanna Tan, Fraser Health Authority• Sharon Tidd, Salvation Army• Betina Wheeler, New Westminster School District

1.0 Executive Summary

The New Westminster Community Poverty Reduction Strategy is the culmination of several years of dedicated work on behalf of the Community Poverty Reduction Committee.

The strategy, which incorporates a five-year action plan, is based on extensive research and a compre-hensive community consultation process, including with those with lived experiences. It focuses on families living in poverty and with low incomes but recognizes that families reside in communities. As such, a number of the actions have broader applicability.

The strategy builds on the strong foundation in place in New Westminster and the collaboration and partnerships forged as a result of its develop-ment. This will be essential in addressing this complex issue and the many barriers faced by families living in poverty.

The strategy provides a vision for moving forward and specific actions to enhance the quality of life of families, while providing a supportive environment

and opportunities to help families move out of poverty.

The strategy, while focusing on actions which are implementable by the committee and its community partners, will require the involvement of the senior levels of government if systemic barriers are to be addressed and meaningful and sustained progress is to be achieved.

For families living in poverty, the strategy hopefully reflects their concerns, ideas and suggestions, while providing them with hope for a better future. As one consultation participant stated: “I want my kids to go to dance classes and martial arts. I want my kids to do the things that I couldn’t do.”

Definition of Poverty

The Low Income Measure is used in the 2011 National Household Survey and for the purposes of measuring poverty in this strategy. This measure utilizes income inequality, with the general concept being that a household’s income is low income if it less than half the median income of all households.

While this definition of poverty is measur-able and comparable, the committee views poverty as the condition by which an individual or a family does not have sufficient social and economic resources to achieve holistic wellbeing or the choices, dignity and power to fully participate in society.

2.0 Background

The Community Poverty Reduction Initiative began in May 2012 as a partnership between the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and the Union of British Columbia Muni-cipalities (UBCM). The initiative was premised on the experience that no one level of government or organization can address a complex issue such as poverty and that community-based responses have tremendous promise as one part of a policy and program repertoire needed to address this issue.

MCFD hired seven half-time family consultants to work in the communities of Cranbrook, Kamloops, New Westminster, Port Hardy, Prince George,

Stewart and Surrey. The consultants worked collab-oratively with community partners to build local teams, to identify barriers faced by families living in poverty, to connect families to needed services and supports and to develop community-based poverty reduction strategies.

The seven pilot projects represented a mix of urban, rural and remote communities throughout British Columbia. Four years after its inception, six of the communities, including New Westminster, are still involved and UBCM is no longer an active partner. MCFD is continuing to work collaboratively with local governments, community partners, other ministries and the private sector to support the development of community poverty reduction strategies.

I juggle what little money I have and make choices between feeding my children and paying the bills.

(Consultation Participant, 2015)

3.0 Introduction

New Westminster has taken many steps and actions to assist people living in poverty and with low incomes. It was the first municipality in Canada to institute a Living Wage Bylaw (2011) and it is considered to be a municipal leader in the areas of homelessness and housing affordability. New Westminster is also home to a wide array of community, faith, settlement and social service organizations which are working to meet the needs of at-risk, marginalized and vulnerable popula-tions. These organizations not only provide direct services but are also involved in needs assessments, planning, grant-writing, advocacy and evaluation.

The City of New Westminster (City), at the invi-tation of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), agreed to participate in the Community Poverty Reduction Initiative. This participation was in recognition of the fact that poverty is a complex and pervasive issue in most municipalities in Canada, including New Westminster, and that partnerships, both at the community level and with the senior levels of

government, are essential to addressing this issue. It was also an important opportunity to be more focused and deliberate in addressing poverty in New Westminster and building on the strong foundation in place.

The initiative is primarily focused on family, child and youth poverty; however, it is recognized that the concept of family is a broad term. Family, as defined here, is a combination of two or more individuals, at least one of whom is 0 to 17 years, who are bound together by ties of mutual consent, adoption, blood or placement and together assume responsibilities in order to achieve common goals. It is also recognized that any strategy must address poverty beyond the family and include actions which address poverty in the larger community.

Based on the 2011 National Household Survey, New Westminster (17.2%) had a lower than average rate of child and youth (0 to 17 years) poverty than for the Metro Vancouver average (19.5%) and the British Columbia average (19.1%). Within New Westminster, poverty is not evenly distributed by neighbourhood, with Brow of the Hill (37.1%) and Uptown (32.4%) having a far higher than average rate of child and youth poverty.

The initiative was launched in May 2012. Soon after, a half-time MCFD family consultant was assigned to New Westminster and a Community Poverty Reduction Committee was established. As is common with most pilot projects, there were some early challenges. These challenges included

the added amount of time required to both identify needs and gaps, including consulting with those with lived experiences, and build relations with community partners.

Based on the learnings, the committee developed a Poverty Reduction Needs Assessment and Direc-tional Document (2014), which incorporated eight actions to guide its work. These actions included: collecting benchmark information related to family poverty; consulting with families living in poverty and with low incomes; identifying, inventorying and mapping community resources; developing terms of reference for the committee; preparing information to educate the community and reduce the stigma associated with poverty; and joining the Cities Reducing Poverty Learning Community and Network. The City also prepared a Poverty Reduction Literature Review (2014), which informed the framework and the resultant strategy.

With the successful implementation of the above cited actions, plus others, the committee felt that it was in a strong position to develop a Community Poverty Reduction Strategy (2016). In fall 2015, the committee started to draft the strategy, as well as a number of actions based on the research and consultation. These actions were shared with over 30 business, faith, settlement and social service organizations who attended a community conversation on November 20, 2015. Based on this consultation event, the actions were revised and augmented and there was agreement that the actions were reflective of the needs in the community and representative of the community partners.

Participating community partners emphasized the need to document and categorize the actions but not assign a specific responsibility or timeframe for

each as this had proven divisive as part of a previous action planning exercise. Instead, they felt that the committee should review the complete listing of actions on a yearly basis and develop an annual action plan which is reflective of both capacity and resources. Participating community partners also emphasized that the senior levels of government needed to be at the table, as a number of the iden-tified barriers were beyond the jurisdiction (e.g., inter-ministerial coordination) or resources (e.g., provision of affordable and non-market housing) of the committee. Additionally, they felt that there would be benefit in the province providing capacity building, pilot project and/or seed funding to implement actions and to determine if they have relevance to other jurisdictions.

The action plan, which forms an essential part of this strategy, is categorized according to the following seven areas of focus or pillars:

• Community Poverty Reduction Committee• Employment, Income and Financial Literacy• Housing and Shelter• Information, Services and Support• Public Awareness, Empowerment and Mobil-

ization• Social Connectedness and Community

Engagement• Transportation

A total 70 actions are listed, which are proposed to be implemented over a five-year period.

Feeling judged by people is the worst part. When you are poor, you don’t feel like you are part of society.


4.0 Methods

The strategy is based on an extensive research and consultation process. This included the knowledge and experience of community partners, who, on a daily basis, interact with families living in poverty; an audit of existing community initiatives which support poverty reduction and food security; a liter-ature review of poverty resources and reduction strategies; focus groups and a survey of families living in poverty; and a community conversation on poverty reduction which involved over 30 business, faith, settlement and social service organizations.

Regarding consultation with families having lived experiences, this was seen as being essential to informing the strategy and actions and empow-ering those involved. In total, 36 families partici-pated in the consultation. Of these families, 19 participated in four focus group sessions and 17 participated by way of survey. The majority of participants (68%) reported that there after-tax household income was less than $20,000. Partici-pants not only identified barriers but also shared their ideas and suggestions as to actions that would assist them to move out of poverty.

The strategy and action plan was also informed by the considerable resources available through the Tamarack Institute’s Vibrant Communities: Cities Reducing Poverty Learning Community and Network and a Community Poverty Reduction Strategies Stakeholder Forum held on March 27, 2015 and hosted by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, in which participating muni-cipalities shared their experiences and learnings.

5.0 Definition

There is no official government definition of poverty in Canada. It is typically measured through low income (which is just one facet of poverty, with other considerations being access to basic goods and level of financial assets and debts). According to the Tamarack Institute, people who are living at or below the low income level are considered to be poor.

There are three main methods that Canada uses to measure low income – i.e., the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO), the Low Income Measure (LIM) and the Market Basket Measure (MBM). The LIM after tax is used in the 2011 National Household Survey and for the purpose of measuring poverty for this strategy. This measure utilizes income inequality, with the general concept being that a household’s income is low income if it is less than half the median income of all households (adjusted for household size).

Household Size

LIM After-Tax Income

1 $19,4602 $27,5213 $33,7064 $38,9205 $43,5146 $47,4477 $51,486

It should be noted that the 2011 National Household Survey was a voluntary survey with a high rate of non-response and that the income reported by responding households is from the previous year (i.e., 2010).

Classes that will help with money management. It’s hard to money manage on the limited amount of funds you get.


6.0 Current Situation

6.1 Community Profile

New Westminster is centrally located in Metro Vancouver. It comprises 15.6 square kilometres and has a population of about 70,000.

New Westminster is experiencing significant popu-lation growth and development. Between 2006 and 2011, the population increased by 12.7%. The main driver of population growth is immigration, which accounted for 61.3% of the increase. Between 2006 and 2011, the top five source countries for immigrants were the Philippines (25.0%), China and Hong Kong (12.4%), India (6.3%), Romania (5.2%) and the United States (4.5%). In both 2010 and 2012, about 5.0% of Government Assisted Refugees entering British Columbia settled in New Westminster.

New Westminster is becoming increasingly diverse. In 2011, 33.4% of the population was comprised of immigrants and 34.8% of the population reported visible minority status. Additionally, 3.2% of the population reported Aboriginal identity.

New Westminster has a high percentage of renter households (43.7% in 2011) and has the third largest stock of purpose-built market rental housing units in Metro Vancouver (8,077 in 2015), after Vancouver and Burnaby. This rental housing is concentrated in three neighbourhoods (i.e., Brow of the Hill, Downtown [Albert Crescent] and Uptown) and provides relatively affordable housing. It is also a contributing factor in attracting new immigrants.

6.2 Poverty Snapshot

6.2.1 Poverty Rates

Based on the 2011 National Household Survey, New Westminster (17.2%) had a lower than average rate of child and youth (0 to 17 years) poverty than for the Metro Vancouver average (19.5%) and the British Columbia average (19.1%). By comparison, New Westminster’s child and youth poverty rate ranked 11th out of 20 Metro Vancouver munici-palities. Regarding neighbouring municipalities, New Westminster’s child and youth poverty rate was lower than for Richmond (25.4%), Burnaby (23.1%) and Coquitlam (21.1%).

In total, 1,780 New Westminster children and youth (0 to 17 years) lived in poverty; of which 740 or 41.6% were 0 to 5 years. New Westminster (18.9%) had a higher than average rate of early years poverty than for the Metro Vancouver average (17.3%) and the British Columbia average (18.5%). By comparison, New Westminster early years poverty rate ranked 5th out of 19 Metro Vancouver municipalities.

6.2.2 Vulnerable Populations

Some families are especially vulnerable to poverty, including:

• aboriginal families;• lone-parent families, particularly those

headed by women;• recent immigrant and refugee families;• families containing children with disabilities;• families in which one or both parents are

minimum wage earners;• families in which one or both parents are

unemployed; and• families which are reliant on income assist-

ance or other forms of government support.

6.2.3 Poverty by Neighbourhood

Children and youth (0 to 17 years) living in poverty are not evenly distributed by neighbourhood in New Westminster. Brow of the Hill (37.1%) and

Uptown (32.4%) had a far higher than average rate of child and youth poverty than for the New Westminster average (17.2%).

With regard to younger children (0 to 5 years), the Uptown (38.0%) and Brow of the Hill (36.0%) had a far higher than average rate of early years poverty than for the New Westminster average (18.9%).

For more information about child and youth poverty, including by neighbourhood, please refer to the New Westminster Poverty Reduction Back-grounder (2014).

Early Years Poverty

High poverty rates for young children (0 to 5 years) are particularly concerning, given the importance of the early years of life for chil-dren’s health and development.

Rapid brain development and crucial windows of time when specific physiological and psych-ological growth is taking place in their early years makes even one or two years in poverty a serious issue for young children. Impacts include long-term effects such as increased risk of chronic disease over the course of their lives, school failure and criminal justice involve-ment1.

1Patrizia Albanese, Child Poverty in Canada, 2010, p. 12.

Childhood Vulnerability Rates

As with poverty, there are also neighbourhood variations related to childhood vulnerability rates, some of which may be associated with childhood poverty rates.

School District #40 has participated in all five waves of the Early Development Instrument (EDI) data collection. Wave 5 results were collected in 2011/12 and 2012/13 from nine schools in six neighbourhoods. Overall, New Westminster had a vulnerability rate of 33.0%, compared to the provincial vulnerability rate of 32.5%. District-wide, vulnerability was lowest on the language and cognitive development scale at 10% and highest on the social compe-tence scale at 16%. Regarding the geographic distribution of vulnerability on one or more scales by neighbourhood; Connaught Heights had the lowest level of vulnerability at 21.0% and Downtown/Stewardson had the highest level of vulnerability at 47.0%. Additionally, Connaught Heights and Queensborough experienced decreases in vulnerability, while

6.3 Barriers and Challenges

Based on the research and consultation process, including those with lived experiences, the following barriers and challenges were identified. It should be noted that in most cases, families living in poverty and with low incomes experience multiple barriers or challenges, which speaks to the need for a collaborative approach and partnerships to assist and support them. For ease of presentation, the barriers and challenges have been categorized as follows.

6.3.1 Access to and Awareness of Services• Lack of integrated case management and

referral services.• Lack of understanding of government systems

and eligibility criteria.• Limited information about available programs,

services and supports.

6.3.2 Child Care and Early Childhood Develop-ment

• High cost of licensed child care, particularly infant/toddler (0 to 36 months).

• Lack of licensed child care, particularly infant/toddler and school age care.

• Limited availability of flexible, occasional and part-time child care.

• Inability of the child care subsidy to bridge the affordability gap between a parent’s ability to pay and the actual cost of child care.

6.3.3 Coordination and Delivery of Services• Limited coordination between levels of

government and between provincial minis-tries.

• Limited jurisdiction and resources on behalf of municipalities and concerns about down-loading.

• Reduced funding for non-profit organizations which impacts service delivery and quality.

6.3.4 Education and Training• Reduced access to Adult Basic Education.• Limited availability to education and training

opportunities offering child care.• High cost of a post-secondary education.

Downtown/Stewardson, Queen’s Park and Sapperton experienced increases in vulner-ability. The Uptown had no critically different change.2

2Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British

Columbia. Community Summary EDI Wave 5 (2011/12-

2012/13) – School District #40 (New Westminster), 2014.

New Westminster Child Care Needs Assess-ment (Fall 2015)

Based on a 2014 survey of 396 parents of children aged 0 to 12 years, 12.2% reported that they were in receipt of a child care subsidy. Of those receiving a subsidy, 57.9% reported that it was insufficient to make up the difference between their ability to pay and the actual cost of their child care.

6.3.5 Employment• Inadequate minimum wage rates (in

comparison to cost of living).• Increasing prevalence of casual, contract and

part-time employment.

6.3.6 Food Security• Lack of awareness of food programs in the

community.• Limited access to bulk buying and meal prep-

aration programs.• Limited coordination of food security efforts,

including meal programs.

6.3.7 Health and Medical Services• Limited access to family physicians (and over

reliance on walk-in clinics).• High cost of some health services, including

dental.• Limited access to addiction and mental health

services.

6.3.8 Housing and Shelter• Difficulty accessing tenant dispute resolution

services in a timely and effective manner.• Inadequate rent supplements under the

Rental Assistance Program.• Lack of affordable, safe and secure housing.• Limited availability and long waitlists for

non-market housing.• Limited availability of transition and second

stage housing.• Reduced access to housing outreach, support

and advocacy services.

6.3.9 Income and Support• High rates of default with regard to child

support payments.

• Inadequate income assistance and disability rates and the lack of indexing with the cost of living.

6.3.10 Leisure and Recreational Services• Little discretionary income which limits

participation – i.e., basic needs come first.• High admission costs and program fees.• Lack of equipment and high cost to rent

required equipment – e.g., ice skates.• Lack of awareness of the City’s Parks and

Recreation Subsidy Program.

6.3.11 Settlement and Integration• Difficulty finding suitable employment in

order to secure an adequate income.• Difficulty finding affordable housing,

including with multiple bedroom counts.• Lack of access to translated information and

interpretation services.• Limited knowledge of the health care system

and difficulty finding a family physician.• Reluctance to seek assistance or ask questions.

New Westminster Everybody Active Project (2009)

Based on focus group discussions and a survey involving 74 low-income families and indi-viduals, the project documented low-levels of participation in parks and recreation programs. It also documented multiple barriers to participation and recommended that strategies to increase participation need to multi-faceted, addressing issues related to cost, as well as other variables such as child minding, equipment, information, scheduling and transportation.

.6.3.12 Stigma and Social Exclusion• Concerns about being excluded or judged

based on one’s economic circumstances.• Inability to participate in community life

which contributes to isolation.• Low self-esteem and feelings of shame asso-

ciated with asking for help.• Negative messaging and stereotypes regarding

individuals and families living in poverty.

6.3.13 Transportation• High cost of public transportation which limits

access to services and social connectedness.• Inadequate coverage and scheduling which

can make it difficult to find or maintain employment.

6.4 Existing Poverty-Related Initiatives

New Westminster had taken many steps and actions to assist people, including families, living in poverty and with low incomes. In fact, an inventory which formed part of the Poverty Reduction Needs Assessment and Directional Document (2014), listed 29 municipal actions which directly address the needs of people, including families, living in

poverty and with low incomes. Additionally, a larger number of coordinating bodies were identi-fied which directly or indirectly address the needs of people, including families, living with poverty and with low-incomes. As such, there is a strong foundation in place for moving forward.

For illustrative purposes, some of these actions are outlined below:

• Implemented a Living Wage Bylaw (2011), which ensures that municipal staff, as well as contracted workers, are paid enough to meet basic, locally calculated expenses.

• Established an Affordable Housing Reserve Fund, which receives 30% of density bonusing revenues.

• Initiated two small sites affordable housing projects, in which the City is providing free land and covering processing and servicing costs.

• Prepared a Tenant Relocation Policy and a ‘Renovictions’ Action Plan, while exploring how the City can support the establishment of a Rent Bank.

• Established a Child Care Grant Program and Reserve Fund, with the former providing $187,796 to non-profit operators since its inception in 2011.

• Offer a Parks and Recreation Subsidy Program, which provides low income residents with a 50% discount on most programs.

• Produce an Affordable Active Living brochure which lists free and low cost parks, cultural and recreational offerings.

• Provide City Partnership Grants to non-profit organizations that are involved in poverty reduction and poverty alleviation related activities.

• Developed a Newcomers’ Guide (2012) which acts as a resource to newcomers during their

New Westminster Immigrant and Refugee Survey (2014)

Based on a survey of 224 recent immigrants, 70.0% identified their number one barrier or challenge as finding employment. More specifically, they felt that employers were: (1) reluctant to hire immigrants without Canadian work experience; (2) reluctant to recognize or verify foreign credentials; and (3) reluctant to hire immigrants with English-as-a-Second Language

first six months after arrival in New West-minster.

• Joined the ‘Safe Harbour: Respect for All’ program (2014), which acknowledges the value of diversity and inclusion in the community.

For illustrative purposes, some of the coordinating bodies are listed below:

• Community Coordination for Women’s Safety Committee

• Kids New West Child Development Committee• New Westminster Community Food Action

Committee• New Westminster Healthier Community

Partnership Committee• New Westminster Homelessness Coalition

Society• New Westminster Inter-Agency Council• New Westminster Public Partners Child

Development Committee

• Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster Local Immigration Partnership Council

As part of the community conversation on poverty reduction which was held on November 20, 2015 and involved over 30 business, faith, settlement and social service organizations, it was emphasized that the responsibility for reducing poverty primarily resides with the senior levels of government, as they have the ability and means to increase income levels and provide social supports to transition people, including families, out of poverty. It was also emphasized that local government and community partners have an important role to play as they are on the front lines, have a good understanding as to the needs, and are able to develop and implement actions which are responsive to those needs.

7.0 Five-Year Action Plan

The following proposed actions were compiled by the Community Poverty Reduction Committee and are based on the research and consultation process. They have been grouped according to the following seven areas of focus or pillars.

• Community Poverty Reduction Committee• Employment, Income and Financial Literacy• Housing and Shelter• Information, Services and Support• Public Awareness, Empowerment and Mobil-

ization• Social Connectedness• Transportation

In total, there are 70 actions which are proposed to be implemented over a five-year period. In some cases, work has already commenced with regard to developing or implementing the actions. In other cases, the committee is supporting an existing initiative or adding value to it.

With regard to the action plan, new actions are identified with a “N” and in progress actions are identified by an “IP.”

7.1 Community Poverty Reduction Committee

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) continue to fund the Family Consultant position and that it explore new ways of supporting the work of the Community Poverty Reduction Committee.

X

That the City of New Westminster (City) continue to provide staff support and in-kind assistance to the Community Poverty Reduction Committee.

X

That ongoing efforts be made to augment the membership of the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, including from the Aboriginal, business and faith communities

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee form strategic alliances with other juris-dictions involved in poverty reduction such as the Cities of Revelstoke and Surrey.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee endorse the Vibrant Communities Canada’s Cities Reducing Poverty Charter.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee support efforts by the federal and provincial governments to develop and implement poverty reduction strategies.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee have a web presence, possibly on the City’s website, to facilitate access to poverty reduction information and resources.

X

That the City incorporate policies related to poverty reduction and food security into the update of New Westminster Official Community Plan.

X

7.2 Employment, Income and Financial Literacy

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee advocate that the federal and provincial governments make improvements to policies and programs that impact low-income individ-uals and families. (At the federal level, this could include Employment Insurance and Income Guarantees at or above the Low-Income Cut-Offs (LICO). At the provincial level, this could include the Child Care Subsidy, Employment Standards, Income Assistance and Disability Benefits, and Minimum Wage.)

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with business associations, employ-ment services and settlement organizations to address barriers to employment for low-income individuals and families.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee explore ways to enhance access to financial empowerment and literacy resources, seminars and services.

X

That the City work with business associations to raise awareness of the benefits of paying a living wage. (The City implemented a Living Wage Bylaw in 2011, which ensures that municipal staff, as well as contracted workers, are paid enough to meet basic, locally calculated expenses.)

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee and the Intelligent City Digital Inclusion Working Group create a listing and map of community sites which offer free access to computers and the Internet, as well as free orientation and training opportunities.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee increase awareness about the importance of and potential benefits to be derived from filing a tax return and that it advocate for increased funding to assist charitable, faith and non-profit organizations to provide assistance to people living in poverty and with low incomes in filing a return.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, possibly in partnership with the WINS Local Immigration Partnership Council, work towards creating inclusive workplaces, including increasing awareness about the value of immigrant workers and enhancing the capacity of employers to support their integration into the workplace.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee advocate for enhanced access to Adult Basic Education, including tuition-free high school level courses.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, with the assistance of member organ-izations, raise community awareness about existing educational, employment, job training and skill development programs. (For example, the Cave Youth Program at Douglas College, which assists youth aged 15 to 29 in finding their fit in the workplace, was cited.)

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee develop a communications strategy to raise awareness about and enhance access to the Canada Learning Bond and the BC Training and Education Savings Grant.

X

That the City develop Payday Loan Regulations and work with mainstream financial institutions to develop and/or promote alternative short-term, low-interest loan products.

X

7.3 Housing and Shelter

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee and member organizations support initiatives calling for increased senior government funding for non-market and subsidized housing. (The City endorsed a resolution to ‘Develop a Long-Term Federal Plan to Fix Canada’s Housing Crunch.’)That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee advocate for amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act such that the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) dispute resolution services are more accessible to low-income renters and more effective in responding to their needs, and that decisions are enforced by the RTB and in a more timely manner.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the New Westminster Community Coordination for Women’s Safety Committee to advocate for enhanced access to transition, second stage and non-market housing for women and children fleeing abuse.

X

That the City assist the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society to prepare and implement a new Homelessness Strategy. (The City’s Homelessness Action Strategy and Implementation Plan was completed in December 2006.)

X

That the City continue to implement its Affordable Housing Strategy (2010), which includes actions in support of developing affordable, non-market and rental housing.

X

That the City continue to work with BC Housing to address the needs of low and moderate income households, as well as vulnerable populations such as Aboriginals, new immigrants and refugees.

X

That the City, possibly in conjunction with the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society and financial institutions, explore the financial feasibility of a Rent Bank.

X

That the City proceed with the development of two small sites for affordable or non-market housing and that it explore partnerships and additional sites for affordable housing. (In 2015, the Mayor established a Task Force on Housing Affordability, which is working to create non-market housing for low and moderate income households, affordable rental housing and affordable homeownership.)

X

That the City continue to be assertive in its application of the Standards of Maintenance Bylaw to address health and safety related issues in rental apartment buildings.

X

That the City and the Fraser Health Authority, possibly in conjunction with Landlord BC, work to raise awareness among rental apartment owners/managers and tenants about how to prevent bed bug infestations and the need for immediate action to limit the extent of any outbreaks.

X

7.4 Information, Services and Support

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee advocate for enhanced provincial inter-min-isterial coordination and a case management approach to assist clients in navigating systems and accessing supports.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee advocate for enhanced supports for youth aged 19 to 25 years, especially those that are aging out-of-care, those in abusive or violent situations and those living with addictions or mental illness.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee advocate for the restoration of funding for housing outreach, referral and advocacy programs. (Over the past two years, annual funding cuts to these programs amount to $382,000 in New Westminster.)

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the New Westminster Home-lessness Coalition Society and the New Westminster Community Food Action Committee to enhance coordination of and access to food security and meal programming, including in emergency situations.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with charitable organizations and local retailers to enhance access to school supplies (e.g., backpacks, binders, runners, etc.) for low-income families with school-age children.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice to enhance access to family physicians and health services for people living in poverty and with low incomes.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the WINS Local Immigration Partnership Council to address issues related to poverty and low incomes as experienced by new immigrants and refugees.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee support the development of a Welcome and Integration Centre as an essential component of a new secondary school.

X

That the New Westminster Public Partners Child Development Committee continue to work towards the development of five Child Development Hubs. These hubs, anchored by licensed child care, provide seamless access to a range of information, services and supports.

X

That the City continue to publish and distribute the Helping Hand brochure and Survival Guide, which list community, faith, settlement and social service organizations.

X

That the City continue to update the Community and Social Services Asset Map, which provides access to information, including that related to low, no cost and non-profit services.

X

That the City continue to provide City Partnership and other grants to non-profit organizations that are involved in poverty reduction and food security activities.

X

That the City and School District continue to support the development of community and school gardens as an educational tool and as a source of local food production.

X

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Healthy Schools New West Committee utilize the information obtained through the Healthy Schools Community consultation process to implement an annual action plan which will address overall student health, including access to healthy and nutritious food.

X

That the Province hold facilitated workshops on specific government programs to improve awareness and uptake of such programs.

X

7.5 Public Awareness, Empowerment and Mobilization

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee continue to update the Poverty Profile, which includes city-wide and neighbourhood information related to poverty and low incomes.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee increase community awareness about poverty and its causes and that it reduce the stigma associated with poverty and low-incomes by circulating the recently developed Poverty Myth Busters publication.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee continue to involve people living in poverty and with low incomes in the development and implementation of poverty reduction actions. Additionally, that those sharing their lived experiences be recognized for their contributions and, where possible, compensated for their time.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the School District and Douglas College to engage children, youth and young adults in initiatives related to poverty reduction and food security, and in the case of schools, support initiatives that link to the Personal and Social Core Competency that weaves Social Responsibility through the K-12 curriculum.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the New Westminster Home-lessness Coalition Society to host a “Day in the Life’ poverty simulation exercise targeted at elected officials and business leaders.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, in conjunction with the Arts Council of New Westminster and the New Westminster Museum and Archives, hold an arts or media exhibit related to the lived experiences of people living in poverty and with low incomes.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee apply for grant funding or partner with a post-secondary institution to provide professional development offerings to non-profit organizations related to working with people living in poverty and with low incomes.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, possibly in partnership with the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society, host a Poverty Summit. This would be an opportunity to present the strategy, provide a forum for the sharing of lived experiences, raise community awareness and solicit support, and identify potential community partners.

X

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee, possibly in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and other business associations, organize ‘experiential’ tours of community, faith, settlement and social service organizations in order to raise awareness of the issues related to poverty and low incomes and to share possible funding, sponsorship or volunteer opportunities to address the issues.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee identify a champion to be the face of or spokesperson for poverty reduction efforts in New Westminster. This individual, which could change on annual basis, would need to have knowledge of or lived experiences with poverty; be comfortable with public speaking; and be self-confident (and not at-risk or vulnerable).

X

That the City, through the Mayor’s Task Force on Public Engagement, explore mechanisms and tools to increase engagement, involvement and participation by low-income individuals, including Aboriginals, new immigrants, refugees and renters.

X

That the City implement the Child and Youth Engagement Toolkit (2015), which will facilitate involvement by younger residents, including those that are at-risk, marginalized and vulnerable.

X

That the City continue to explore means by which to increase participation in municipal elections by people living in homelessness and poverty.

X

7.6 Social Connectedness

ActionsStatusN IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee conduct research to identify the barriers to participation in arts, cultural, parks and recreational programming. (This research could build on the Everybody Active Project, which documented barriers to access for leisure, parks and recreational activities and explored ways of overcoming these barriers.)

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with rental apartment owners and managers, possibly through Landlord BC, to encourage and facilitate social connectedness among tenants, including furnishing and equipping amenity rooms, organizing socials, etc.

X

That the City continue to publish and distribute the Affordable Active Living brochure, which lists free and low-cost parks, cultural and recreational offerings.

X

That the City explore additional ways to enhance access to and participation in leisure and recreational activities and programs. (Current initiatives include the Parks and Recreation Subsidy Program, which is administered by Fraserside Community Services Society, and by donation, free and low-cost activities such as Looney Skates and Swims.)

X

That the City continue to support the Neighbourhood Small Grant Program, which is funded by the Vancouver Foundation and locally administered by Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

X

ActionsStatusN IP

That the City embrace and support events that reach out to diverse and often marginalized populations – e.g., Aboriginal Day, Homelessness Connect Days, New West Pride Week, Newcomers Connect Day, World Refugee Day, etc.

X

That the City ensure adequate provision of open spaces, parks, playgrounds and trees in low-income and multi-family rental housing areas and neighbourhoods, as these residents do not have access to private yards and rooftop gardens and many cannot afford to own or maintain a vehicle or take transit to access such amenities in other parts of the city or other municipalities.

X

That the City ensure that all civic facilities and programs are welcoming and inclusive of diverse populations, including people living in poverty and with low incomes. This could include creating ‘living room’ spaces within civic facilities, which are inviting and offer opportunities for informal gathering and social interaction.

X

7.7 Transportation

ActionsStatus

N IP

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee work with the City, Translink and community stakeholders to explore transit solutions for low-income individuals and families and those enrolled in employment and life skills programming.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee voice its support for the Complimentary Community (DUC) Shuttle Service which is funded by the City, Bosa Properties, River Market and Westminster Savings. This shuttle serves Downtown and Uptown New Westminster.

X

That the Community Poverty Reduction Committee explore the development of a program whereby unclaimed and used bicycles are collected, rehabilitated and made available to low-income families and individuals.

X

That the City work towards ensuring that all buses, bus stops, rapid transit stations and services are accessible for people with mobility limitations and disabilities.

X

That the City continue to implement the Master Transportation Plan (2015), which contains actions in support of a compact, connected, mixed-use and walkable community.

X

8.0 Implementation Strategy

The Community Poverty Reduction Committee will prepare an annual action plan based on the five-year action plan. The selected actions will be implementable based on the committee’s member-ship and available resources. In some cases, the membership will be augmented to address a specific action or a sub-committee established to focus on a specific action. The selected actions will also facilitate collaboration between member organizations; forge stronger relations with other coordinating bodies such as the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society; result in tangible benefits to those in poverty and with low incomes; and build momentum, commitment and a sense of ownership. A key consideration will be to raise community awareness regarding poverty and its impacts as a means of building support for the strategy and its implementation and to reduce the stigma associated with poverty.

As noted previously, the senior levels of government have an important role to play, as they are best positioned to reduce systemic barriers contributing to poverty and implementing policies, programs and services to raise people, including families, out of poverty. With regard to this specific strategy, the provincial government is in a position to be

a resource through ministry representation on the committee or provide capacity building, pilot project or seed funding to implement actions. This would expedite strategy implementation and facili-tate improved outcomes for those living in poverty and with low incomes in New Westminster.

I went to the school book fair with my kids and wasn’t able to buy books and I had to try and explain that to them.


9.0 Monitoring and Evaluation

One of the identified actions is to continue to update the Poverty Profile, which includes city-wide and neighbourhood information related to poverty and low incomes. This work will be particularly important in determining if the situation is improving, deteriorating or staying the same, while providing evidence as to the effectiveness of interventions.

Based on this profile, the Community Poverty Reduction Committee will prepare an annual update report to City Council and other interested public and non-profit bodies. This report will

summarize key indicators related to poverty and provide an update on the progress in implementing the strategy. Regarding the latter, it will identify the number of actions implemented in a given year and the status of action implementation – i.e., fully, partially or not at all. If partially or not at all, it will state the reason(s) (e.g., inability to involve key community partners, lack of resources, etc.). Based on the report, the strategy could evolve to address new issues or respond to unforeseen circumstances.

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COMMUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY - New Westminster · 2017-01-12 · Community Poverty...

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